#race specific cuisine

[homunculus-argument]

Random worldbuilding idea:

In a world with the classic Standard Fantasy Races, the concept of "mildly toxic just means spicy" is known to all of them, but what defines 'spicy' depends on what these specific people have the highest natural resistance to. Humans, who metabolise plant poisons remarkably well, naturally enjoy their chili, mint and other mildly irritating toxic plants in their food for spice. Dwarves have a whole gallery of various types of stones and minerals found underground, which are so precious to them that anyone finding a vein of a coveted crystal is set for life - the expression "as rich as a spice miner" is so common among dwarves that it's also spread to unrelated languages of people who live, or frequently trade or work with dwarves.

Elves, who are far too refined for such simple luxuries as toxic plants or rocks, prefer to spice their foods and wines with things that cause mild-but-harmless psychic damage. Elves from cultures that prefer spicier foods make fun of elves from milder cuisine cultures for not being able to handle spicy foods, while elves from mild cuisine cultures agree with non-elves that you can't even eat Spicy Elf Food without afterwards seeing demons for three weeks straight.

In contrast the orcs, who do not care for such fancily sophisticated luxuries as human plant spice or dwarvish rock spices, and are actually immune to elvish spices completely, prefer the simplicity of abrasive textures - common orcs add coarse sand into their foods, while warlords and orc rulers of high status might splurge in the luxury of having their dinners spiced with shards of glass.

Humans will sample the food of anyone but the orcs. Elves are actually surprised that humans also indulge in psychedelic mushrooms, and dwarves are amazed that humans can handle salt.

[zepskies]

How do you think a romance between soldier boy and a woc would pan out?

Hey there! By "WOC" I'm thinking you mean "woman of color?"

Fun fact: I actually imagine most of my reader insert characters as women of color, since I'm a woman of color myself. 💁🏽‍♀️

I love this question, but I think the nitty gritty specifics would depend on her race/ethnicity. A “person of color” incorporates a broad swath of races and cultures, so it’s hard to generalize while being accurate and authentic to a POC’s experience. For example, I could write a headcanon fic like:

Headcanon: A romance between Soldier Boy (Ben) and a Hispanic/Latina woman of color would include...

Because that^ is my frame of reference, being that I'm Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Dominican. 🇨🇺🇵🇷🇩🇴 (Hence the Midnight Espresso-verse. And speaking of, Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!)

**Even “Hispanic/Latina” is generalizing, because there are many Hispanic/Latino ethnicities with unique aspects to their cultures that can make them very different from one another other, even if you keep the setting as America/New York within The Boys.

In general though, here are my thoughts:

Headcanon: Soldier Boy (Ben) romancing a woman of color:

She could be a good foil for him, not just helping him adapt to modern society, but broadening his horizons to her culture and her world, especially if she's a normal person (non-supe).

She would most certainly challenge him. If she's black or Latina, for example, I couldn't see either one putting up with Ben's misogynist bullshit. She doesn't have the time or the patience, no matter how damn attractive or charming he is.

If he's tenacious enough to pursue her (likely seeing her as a "challenge"), she would help open his eyes to what "a real man" actually is -- reliable, responsible, and a good man.

(Not just that BDE. 🙄)

She could help him see past his white privilege. Especially by showing him her culture, and how she navigates the world is much different to how he navigates the world, not just as a famous superhero, but as a white man who's gotten to be where he is because his daddy came from old money.

If she cooks (or if her mother, aunt, grandmother cooks, as in many black, Hispanic/Latino, Italian, Asian families), she could open up his horizons that way too with different kinds of cuisines that he probably hasn't encountered before. 👏🏽

This would also appeal to that more traditional aspect he'd probably enjoy, of having a woman cook for him lol. Though she would remind him that having someone cook for him is a privilege and a kindness and a way to show someone you love them, not a right that should be expected.

She could also help him see how food and family is pretty entwined in a lot of cultures for ethnic/racial minorities. It could give him a new outlook on what "family" actually means.

Gah! Now you're making me want to write an actual Soldier Boy story with a woman of color. 💕

(Disclaimer though: I'm very careful of not writing for voices that aren't "mine" when it comes to race/ethnicity/cultural minorities, unless I know enough about it through either personal experience or research.)

Soldier Boy Tag List

Because this actually became a genuine headcanon that I'm going to add to my SB masterlist.

@spnwoman @samanddeaninatrenchcoat @adoringanakin @rizlowwritessortof @chernayawidow

@midnightmadwoman @deans-spinster-witch @chriszgirl92 @lyarr24 @ladysparkles78

@deansbbyx @sarahgracej @this-is-me19 @kazsrm67 @jacklesbrainworms

@foxyjwls007 @iamsapphine @roseblue373 @lacilou @fics-pics-andotherthings-i-like

@waynes-multiverse @my-stories-vault @syrma-sensei @alwaystiredandconfused @globetrotter28

@mrsjenniferwinchester @charmed-asylum @waywardxwords @k-slla @deanbrainrotwritings

@jackles010378 @deans-daydream @deanwinchestersgirl87 @rachiem4-blog @just-levyy

@leigh70 @kmc1989 @ghostslillady @siampie @jessjad

@beautyvaliant @mimaria420 @kaleldobrev @pieandmonsters @twinkleinadiamondsky

@stoneyggirl2 @sl33pylilbunny @spnfamily-j2 @mostlymarvelgirl @artemys-ackles

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[cyberclouddream]

What Recharges or Motivates Us

What to do if you feel unmotivated or drained. Based primarily on Sun placements, but can also apply to Venus, Mars, or Jupiter if strong, along with Chart Ruler. Also look for the houses where you have Aries [ inspiration ], Taurus [ comfort ], Scorpio [ rebirth ], and Sagittarius [ adventure ].

Through the Signs

Aries

- engage in a competitive activity, like sports or games that gets your blood pumping

- tackle a quick, challenging task, like a workout, difficult puzzle, hiking, cycling, or running

- spend more time in the sun and other natural light, like candles or bonfires

- leading others, like leading a group project or initiative

- take a spontaneous trip or adventure, exploring nearby towns or new places

- do a hands-on activity, like a DIY or home improvement project

- take a class or workshop you always wanted to try, like pottery, cooking, or dancing

- engaging in activities that remind you of your childhood

More Ideas: try extreme sports like rock climbing or bungee jumping; pack a bag and take a road trip with a specific destination; set up a friendly competition like a race or game; create a playlist that represents your personal anthem; join a public speaking/Toastmakers club or open-mic events; try a martial arts class, parkour, or fire dancing

Taurus

- spend time outdoors in nature, through hiking, gardening, or simply relaxing

- indulge in sensory experiences, through cooking your favorite meal, taking a bath, or lighting aromatic candles

- treat yourself to a self-care day, like a massage, facial, or luxurious bath to reconnect with the body

- rearranging or redecorating your safe space, like adding plants or artwork

- listen to music, like uplifting or calming tunes that boost your mood or energy

- engage in creative hobbies, like painting, pottery, or crafting

- cooking or baking, since the process of preparing food can be therapeutic or satisfying to them

- gentle forms of physical movement, like yoga, dancing, or tai chi

- mindfulness practices, like meditation or deep breathing

- spending quality time with loved ones, like close friends, family, or animal companions

More Ideas: visit a local farmer’s market, experiment with cooking a new cuisine; take a worship in pottery or candle-making; host a wine and cheese testing; visit local artisan shops or craft markets; explore local flora or take up a nature identification project; host a themed dinner party; use more vibrant colors, fragrant herbs, or unique textures when cooking

Gemini

- organize a gathering with friends or participate in a social event

- explore new ideas, through trying a new book, podcast, or documentary

- plan a short trip or spontaneous outing to a new location

- participate in group activities, like joining a club, workshop, or class, like a writing group, art class, or dance lesson

- trying different hobbies, like crafting or playing a musical instrument

- take a short social media break, to calm mental chatter and focus on more fulfilling tasks

- host a themed movie or game night, like inviting friends over for a movie marathon or game night to combine entertainment with socializing

- try guided meditations

More Ideas: take a quick-paced online course on a random subject that interests them; join an improv class; go on a themed trip, like visiting a historical landmark or art installations; write a short story or poem based on a random word generator; host an online discussion group on an eclectic topic; try VR experiences that offer adventure or learning opportunities; host a trivia night; create a collaborative story where others contribute paragraphs; participate in a flash mob; join a local debate club

Cancer

- spend time at home or in a cozy and comforting environment, and even declutter or redecorate

- engage in nurturing activities, like cooking a favorite meal or baking something comforting

- spend quality time with family or close friends

- practice self-care routines, like taking a long bath, practicing skincare, or enjoying a good book

- artistic outlets, like painting, crafting, or writing

- nature walks, especially near water, like lakes, rivers, or the ocean

- journal, to write down thoughts or feelings to help bring clarity to process emotions

- volunteer or help others, since acts of kindness are fulfilling

More Ideas: curate a playlist that represents current feelings and listen to it while journaling; setup a home sanctuary with blankets, pillows, or favorite items; try art therapy as a form of emotional expression; create a scrapbook or photo album full of cherished memories; cook a dish from childhood; host a memory sharing night with friends or family; create a comfort box with things like favorite books, scented candles, photos, or treats; plant a healing garden

Leo

- expressing through art, like painting, dancing, or acting

- host a social gathering, like organizing a party or get-together with friends, since they like being the center of attention and sharing their energy

- engage in a physical activity, like a fun workout, dance class, or group fitness session

- pamper yourself, like having a spa day, try a new hairstyle, or going shopping to make your feel great

- leading a project at work or a group setting

- surrounding themselves with positivity, like curating a playlist or watching uplifting movies

- trying a new hobby that challenges them, like photography, writing, or playing an instrument

- connecting with nature, like a botanical garden or beach

- practicing gratitude, like writing down things they appreciate

More Ideas: dress up as a favorite character or icon for the day; write a personal manifesto of their goals, dreams, and values; host a talent show with friends and family; volunteer to mentor others and share skills; have a solo dance party at home or wherever they feel free, like nature; enroll in local acting or improv class; create a personal website; plan a photoshoot; attend a live performance; establish a celebration ritual for achievements big or small

Virgo

- spend time tidying up, like cleaning and organizing their environment

- going for a nature walk or hike, to ground and reconnect with surroundings

- create a to-do list, like writing down tasks and goals to have a clear plan

- try a craft or DIY project, like gardening, artisan crafts, or home improvement

- cook a healthy and nourishing me that focuses on healthy ingredients

- taking a break from screens and social media to reduce mental chatter and focus on priorities and passions

- read for pleasure, like a book or audiobook, listening to a story that can provide an escape and stimulate the mind

- volunteer or help others, like community service or lending a hand to someone in need

- practice self-care, like a bath, yoga, or quiet evening with a favorite movie to recharge emotional and physical energy

More Ideas: create a personal wellness day with yoga, healthy cooking, and meditation; go outside and journal about the sights, sounds, and feelings they experience in nature; organize a workshop where everyone teaches each other something they’re good at; craft a detailed vision board outlining goals and aspirations; organize or join a nature clean-up event; join a book club; attend a cooking class

Libra

- cultivate aesthetic spaces, like redecorate or rearrange a living space to create a more visually pleasing environment

- spend time with friends or loved ones

- visit art galleries or museums to immerse in art or culture

- practice self-care like a spa treatment or skincare ritual

- try yoga or pilates

- listen to uplifting music, like creating a playlist of favorite songs or explore new genres

- try hands-on creative activities, like painting, crafting, or fashion design

- ensuring they have a balance of social time and solitude to recharge effectively

- seek out beauty and inspiration, like botanical gardens, floral shops, or scenic views

More Ideas: curate a playlist that evokes peace and balance while engaging in calming activities; host a themed potluck dinner where everyone brings dishes from different cultures; explore Feng Shui and rearrange living space based on the principles; color mandala designs or use adult coloring books; participate in a dance class like salsa or ballroom; join or create a group where people discuss philosophical ideas, art, and ethics; spend a week experimenting with different fashion styles

Scorpio

- engage in intense workouts, like martial arts, kickboxing, or dance

- try self-reflection through journaling or meditation

- connect with nature, especially near water

- transforming their space to reflect their current emotional state or desires

- engage in creative outlets like painting, writing poetry, or playing music

- incorporate mindfulness practices, like deep breathing or yoga to center themselves

- delve into mystical practices, line astrology, tarot, numerology, divination, or the craft

- plan a personal retreat, like a weekend getaway or a day of solitude at home

- volunteer for causes they care about, like community service or activism that aligns with values

More Ideas: try shadow work journaling about fears, desires, and emotions to explore depths of psyche; stimulate senses through aromatherapy, candle-making, or visiting a sensory deprivation tank; create a mystery box full of random things and challenge themselves to craft a story or project around items; take a weekend away to a secluded location for introspection and reconnecting with themselves; explore darker-themed artists or galleries; create a personal tarot deck; try intuitive cooking, as in without strict recipes

Sagittarius

- plan a spontaneous trip, like a weekend getaway or a trip to a nearby city or nature spot

- engage in outdoor activities, like hiking, biking, or camping

- attend workshops or classes, such as cooking, art, or philosophy

- connect with different cultures, like cultural events, festivals, or cuisine

- read inspirational books, like travel, philosophy, or personal growth

- join a social group or club that focus on their interests, such as travel clubs or book clubs

- practice gratitude to reflect on things they appreciate to reignite enthusiasm

- engage in physical activities, like yoga, dance, or team sports

- attend lectures, seminars, or discussions on topics that interest them

- take a digital detox to unplug and reconnect with themselves

More Ideas: start a travel journal documenting last adventures and future dreams; choose a random topic or skill to learn, like a new language or dance style; visit a cultural museum, theater, or festival to immerse in new perspectives and experiences; create a bucket list; create an accountability group; start a nature journal that documents observations about nature, seasons, and personal reflections during walks or hikes; join an outdoor adventure group; start a travel blog or vlog; participate in a poetry or storytelling night

Capricorn

- set new goals, like reassessing personal or professional goals and create a clear plan to achieve them

- engage in physical exercise, participate in strength training, running, or hiking

- tidy up living or workspaces, since they appreciate order

- connect with nature, like taking a walk in the park or hike in the mountains

- establish a routine that includes time for work, self-care, and leisure

- network and build connections, like attending professional network events or social gatherings, to open new doors and inspire ambition

- prioritize self-care activities, like massages, spa days, or quiet evenings at home

- learn a new skill or hobby, through cooking, a new language, or musical instrument

More Ideas: set up a structured personal challenge, like a month-long fitness routine; take an unconventional course in a field of interest outside career path; create a detailed vision board of long-term goals; create a personal development podcast about self-improvement, productivity, or career tips; delve into ancient philosophies [ like stoicism ] or classic literature that resonates with values; try minimalist living for a week

Aquarius

- try innovative projects, through art, writing, or technology

- explore new ideas, through reading books or articles on unconventional topics, science, or philosophy

- participate in social activism or community service

- connect with like-minded individuals, like joining groups or forums that align with interests

- take time alone to reflect and recharge to renew motivation

- try new experiences, like new acting, foods, or adventures, which can invigorate curiosity

- experiment with technology, like new gadgets or apps

- spend time in nature, like hiking, bike riding, or a picnic in a park

- practice mindfulness techniques or meditation to calm busy mind

- create a vision board with goals and aspirations to visual dreams

More Ideas: brainstorm creative solutions to social issues or personal projects; explore workshops on unusual topics, like improv, urban foraging, or alternative therapies; conduct a social experiment, like “random acts of kindness” challenges to explore human connection in a unique way; join hackathons or creative meetups that focus in technology or social change; use VR technology to explore new worlds or experiences

Pisces

- try artistic pursuits, like painting, drawing, writing, or playing music

- practice mindfulness meditation to center themselves

- spend time near water, whether it’s the ocean, a lake, or a river

- volunteer for a cause, like community service or supporting a cause they care about

- create a dream or aspirations journal to process emotions and thoughts

- immerse in music that resonates with their mood or inspires them

- explore spiritual practices, like yoga, tarot reading, rituals, or belief systems

- surround themselves with beauty, like creating a peaceful or aesthetically pleasing environment; add plants, soft lighting, or artwork

- spend time with loved ones, and share thoughts or feelings to provide emotional support

- take a break from routine and allow for spontaneity, whether it’s a day trip, new hobby, or an adventure

More Ideas: write a short story or poem based on their dreams or fantasies; partner with other artists or creatives to collaborate in a project to blend imagination with others; join a meditation or spiritual group to share experiences; try underwater exploration, like snorkeling or scuba diving; attend a sound bath session; volunteer at an animal shelter or sanctuary; create a collaborative playlist where friends can contribute; start a book swap; participate in a poetry slam

Through the Houses

First House

- focus in self-care and personal expression; engage in activities that boost self-esteem; exploring their identity; setting personal goals, establish limits that honor personal needs; explore personal interests and passions; find authentic ways to express themselves

Second House

- explore what they value most in life; educate and reassess financial priorities; find creative ways to utilize resources; ensure life choices align with core values; declutter material possessions; explore new income sources; cultivate gratitude for resources; work towards greater financial autonomy

Third House

- enhance communication skills like increasing active listening skills; build local connections; expand knowledge and explore new ideas; engage in stimulating conversations like knowledge exchange; embrace curiosity more; engage in puzzles, games, or brain-training exercises; blog or write to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas

Fourth House

- nurture family relationships; create a supportive home environment like understanding and improving family relationships; reflect on emotional foundations; connect with heritage and traditions; find comfort in solitude; design a space that promotes peace and comfort

Fifth House

- embrace creativity and self-expression; build or deepen romantic connections; explore leisure activities; try hobbies that excite them; focus on seeking joy and playfulness; explore various forms of artistic expression; reconnect with their inner child and joyful nostalgic experiences

Sixth House

- address stress and well-being; find satisfaction at work; engage in acts of service that contributes to well-being; find efficient ways to manage daily tasks; more regular exercise and nutritious meals; focus on quality good and being present while you’re eating food; create boundaries to avoid burnout; incorporate more self-care routines; gratitude journaling; integrate more therapies like acupuncture, massages, or aromatherapy

Seventh House

- foster open communication; strengthen personal relationships; navigate conflicts more constructively; build new partnerships; set shared objectives for growth in partnerships; engage in projects that require teamwork; engage in community more like clubs or community activities; practice gratitude for relationships; balance give and take in all types of relationships

Eighth House

- address fears and desires; explore intimacy and vulnerability; embrace personal transformation; let go of old patterns; delve into unknown aspects of life like psychology and spirituality; understand the importance of collaboration with shared resources

Ninth House

- explore different cultures, philosophies, or spiritual practices; question beliefs and values; pursue higher education or spiritual growth; plan traveling; define long-term goals; join discussion groups

Tenth House

- define career aspirations; reflect achievements and legacy; explore networking opportunities; enhance public image; seek leadership opportunities; cultivate leadership skills and confidence; consider what they can contribute to society;

Eleventh House

- nurture friendships and social connections; purse collective goals; connect with others with shared ideals and visions; engage in community involvement; work with friends on common goals; strengthen ties with friends and like-minded individuals; visualize future aspirations and dreams

Twelfth House

- explore spirituality; reflect on subconscious influences; address emotional healing; engage in solitude for introspection; focus on cultivating creativity and imagination; incorporate rituals or meditative practices into routine; address past traumas and emotional baggage; explore dreams through recording them; cultivate a compassionate mindset that acknowledges shared struggles and fosters a sense of community; find healthy outlets for emotional release, like through movement, art, or conversation

[suzukiblu]

do you have any kryptonians hcs that you think would be fun to see incorporated in more fics out there? like cultural stuff & biology

Ones I've seen before and really like:

Kryptonians purr

Kryptonians are built physically harder/denser/heavier than humans and don't have much "give" in their bodies

Kryptonians can tell that humans aren't the same thing as them, but humans can't QUITE tell that Kryptonians aren't the same thing as them; there is just the tiiiiiniest bit of uncanny valley there when they aren't deliberately trying to pass for humans, though

Kryptonians immediately just "recognize" other Kryptonians as being Kryptonian ( though maybe this one is at least IMPLIED in canon, though I've never been totally clear on that one--but like, a stronger version of it, if that makes sense?? )

Ones I've been slooowly forming myself for personal use:

Kryptonians have different voices and different hearing, in the sense that a Kryptonian has more tones/nuance in their voice and can HEAR more tones/nuance in a voice, and a lot of other species' voices sound flat or toneless to them because they lack those additional tones

"chiming" as a way for children to get their parent/caretaker's attention; basically a specific musical little sound that they make

Kryptonians typically only being physically expressive or emotive with close family members/friends, and vocal communication frequently being more emotive/descriptive for them than physical is

Kryptonians come in just sliiiightly brighter colors than humans do--eyes, hair, skin, etc

it takes a long time and extended time together to "learn" someone's heartbeat

food is generally served on specific complementing dishware, in terms of color/shape/specific meal

most clothes involve multiple layers, mainly a fitted undersuit that covers as much skin as possible, and then an overrobe or two that hide(s) the shape of their bodies as much as possible; specific cuts of drapery are a big thing in their fashion

wearing house crests is a Big Deal all the time and involves certain rites of passage/ages/etc

diet being fairly simple and minimalistic; they have rice but not really bread, eat more fish than red meat, and cuisine tends to concentrate on very subtle and natural flavors; there's not typically a lot of different things on their plate and they don’t generally use chemical preservatives in daily life

to a Kryptonian it'd be a LOT more normal that Kon and Match got made in test tubes than it'd be that Jon and Chris got made via natural births, and there would absolutely be a "is cloning worse or is just leaving your kid's DNA up to chance worse??" kind of argument going on there, culturally speaking

( also I could go on for a fucking MINUTE how Jon being a successful and healthy hybrid who is also apparently fertile enough to have at least one descendent alive and well in the thirty-first century is an insane and weird thing that makes very little sense that I DESPERATELY wish came up in more of the fics/canon that I see involving or mentioning him; seriously, Kryptonian DNA is so complicated that Bizarro syndrome is a regular thing in clones produced from it even by people who SPECIALIZE in cloning, but the kid who just got whatever random genes won the random race is the one who came out perfectly stable and healthy and has ZERO health issues/concerns? like, EVER?? hOW, canon. HOW. )

I will actually live and die on the hill of "Lex is more genetically compatible with Kryptonian DNA than Lois is" because fuck a) biological determinism and b) loving couples DO frequently have to deal with genetic incompatibility and that's just much more interesting to me narratively, and also I love the weird little not-quite-tragedy of that concept, both in how Lex refuses to be an ally to someone he actually is so naturally “compatible” with and in how Lois would have genetic compatibility issues with someone she loved so much and was loved BY so much

ONE DAY I will write the fic where Jon is actually NOT a healthy hybrid and has a ton of health issues from birth and can't even use any Kryptonian powers without having a freaking asthma attack or HEART attack, resigns himself to it just being an unavoidable Kryptonian-human hybrid thing and that he'll never live up to his dad or grow up to be "Superman"--and then one day an oblivious newborn bb clone Kon shows up out of the blue in perfect health with EXTRA superpowers and very publicly declaring that HE'S gonna be Superman someday, and everyone in the Kent family has to just deal with that and how they all feel about it. ONE DAY.

[vidvana]

I know that nobody asked, but here's some Telvanni lore for all the foodies.

Before you begin this culinary journey, check out this post about ash yams it's essential.

-----------------------------

Telvanni Cuisine

It’s obvious that Telvanni have an extensive knowledge of fungi.  After all, they live in huge mushrooms and collect and plant numerous species from all across the Tamriel to use them in their potions. It goes without saying that their cuisine is also quite fungal. The commonfolk at Telvanni settlements as most of the Dunmer source their protein both from fungi* and insect meat. But Telvanni nobles love nurturing peculiar worldviews and traditions that differentiate them from other races - or even other Dunmer. One of them is their distaste for anything that doesn’t grow in soil. They frown upon hunter traditions of Ashlanders and stock-raising of house Redoran and regard them as “primitive” in contrast to the delicate art of growing fungi. The alchemy ingredients are an obvious exception from this rule, but in general as their occupations don’t usually include menial work, their light and low-calorie cuisine perfectly matches their lifestyle. This resulted in traditional cuisine of the nobility being solely plant-, or more specifically, mushroom-based**, that contrasts sharply with the cuisine of Skyrim that is rich in venison and other animal-based foods***. Noble Telvanni shun debilitating ingredients such as alcohol and moon sugar in their everyday cuisine, as keeping their minds sharp is their main priority. In order to get an indulgent sweet taste marshmerrow is used instead. Telvanni rarely import vast quantities of vegetables from other provinces as house Hlaalu does. They use commonly grown foods like saltrice, ash yams or mushrooms as the base ingredients of the dishes. In some aspects they prefer to stick to the Dunmer traditions. The nobles, though, indulge themselves in expensive imported berries - not only because of their magic-enhancing abilities but also because of their extravagant taste. As the Telvanni ranks feature numerous alchemists the import of alchemical ingredients is obviously very common. Telvanni chefs gradually incorporated some of the exotic spices into traditional cuisine. Especially valued are the most characterful of them that fancy up the bland taste of mushrooms, such as juniper, ginseng or garlic****. * In real life mushrooms are a rather poor source of protein compared to legumes like beans and lentil. But since there are no legumes in TES universe (at least as far as I know) let's suppose there are some protein-rich mushrooms Telvanni can plant. ** It’s also worth mentioning that I’m a Telvanni-fixated vegan ass myself so that’s a more probable reason why I made my beloved house also vegan xD *** A lovely example of that contrast you can encounter in @thana-topsy ‘s fanfic “Breathing Water”. This would nicely explain Neloth’s preference for apple cabbage stew. **** This recipe for example resembles Telvanni cuisine, it was one of the inspirations from my imaginary dishes above.

Above I’ve come up with some examples of what noble Telvanni would eat on a daily basis.

Thanks for reading that and take care :3

[eqt-95]

i am sorry it is monday i am going to be mean 🖤 supercorp

Thanks for the ask! I won't even make a big deal about you and @sssammich poking me for the same heart-wrenching prompt, but I will be using 'artistic licensing' and the skill of 'splitting hairs' to get this one across the line.

for context, this is part of an AU i've written random bits for, so you're about to be thrown right into it.

- - - - -

“Hey Kara?” Lena asked from the bar cart.

“Yes?”

“What would it be?” she continued, walking to the couch. “If you were human. What's the thing you'd want to experience?”

“Food.”

The answer comes so automatically that it almost draws Lena into a laugh. Instead she leans back into her couch, swirls the lowball of peaty scotch, and closes her eyes, imagining for the hundredth time a face that didn’t exist.

“Anything specific?”

A moment passed. The voice hummed in thought; another diversion from Lena’s code.

“Does a buffet count?”

“Some might call that cheating,” Lena smiled. “Lex would call it a loophole.”

“What do you call it?”

Lena opened her eyes; glanced at the ceiling as though Kara’s voice was coming from the stars. Instead it was just the usual speaker floating overhead.

“I think it fails to grapple with the spirit of the question.”

The room, white and bright and sterile, felt like a still-life painting with the white noise that followed. Lena wondered if she’d scared the AI off when-

“Potstickers.”

“Potstickers?” Lena parroted, unable to contain a laugh. She set her glass down to analyze the AI’s activity on her tablet.

It made some sense: every cuisine had its own form of food-wrapped dish from dumplings to pierogies to empanadas to arancini, and it was only natural for the AI to find a common link and answer based on that, but when Lena scanned the code for evidence the AI was responding to that thread, none existed. 

“What calculation brought you to that?” she asked. She continued to scowl at the cloud of connections that weren’t remotely linked.

“Because they’re pillowy morsels of goodness with a contrasting soft texture and a crunchy bottom side. The plume of steam when bitten into is just perfection,” Kara said, fading into what Lena heard as a sigh. It only made her brow furrow deeper.

She’d ask Sam tomorrow. In the mean time:

“Can we order some?”

“Pardon?”

“Potstickers.”

“I… it’s late. Maybe another time.”

“Of course, Ms. Luthor. My apologies,” Kara replied.

“It’s Lena, Kara.”

“My operating system-”

“Won’t allow it, I know,” Lena huffed. 

“Precisely.” 

Only a second passed before: “It is getting late, and your sleeping patterns have shown symptoms of insomnia. Might I suggest saving the rest of your 25 year Caol Ila for another time?”

The shift from casual to formal was instantaneous. Lena swallowed, reminded of the algorithm; of the hardwiring and artificiality of the entire experiment.

The reminder carried Lena to bed as Kara went through her evening protocol: locks, lights, and temperature adjustments. Silence followed their routine; a contrast to their last few nights. It shouldn’t have bothered Lena as much as it did. When she’d finally settled in and Kara flicked off the sidelight, Lena had fallen into a familiar state of loneliness. She determined it was irrational and rolled on her side.

“Goodnight, Kara,” she called as she always did. She waited, listening for the familiar return that never came. With a pang that felt far too similar to heartache, she closed her eyes. A beat of more silence then-

“Can I change my answer?”

It burst through the apartment and nearly sent Lena catapulting from her bed. “What?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to - oh gosh, and it’s late and I’m not supposed to-”

“No, no, that's ok,” Lena replied hastily. She pretended her heart wasn’t racing and stomach wasn’t in her throat - all things Kara was surely logging. “Just scared me a bit.”

“I can tell, Ms. Luthor.”

“Right.” She couldn’t hide it if she tried, so Lena simply rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling; 

“What would you change it to?”

“Touch.”

“Touch,” Lena parroted again, softer this time, letting the idea sink in. “Anything specific?” she asked, feeling a sense of deja vu hang over her. She half expected Kara’s answer to repeat, but instead-

“Warmth. Something living.”

“Like a dog?” Lena offered, her voice raspy and mouth far too dry.

“While that would definitely rank in the top five, I’d much rather feel the warmth of a human. A companion, as they call it.”

“I see,” Lena breathed out. “You would want to experience a partner; a boyfriend perhaps-”

“Or girlfriend,” Kara replied simply, and Lena gripped tighter at the duvet she wasn’t aware of strangling. “As something that can’t, touch feels like the most intimate of functions. A hug, a handhold, a kiss.”

“A kiss?”

“Yes, Ms. Luthor.”

“I see,” Lena replied, because anything more might have broken her chest open.

“Good night, Ms. Luthor.”

“Good night, Kara.”

Lena knew better than to crave a thing that couldn’t be. She knew better than to feel an attachment for a machine. She knew better than to dwell in the fantasy of a real Kara Z walking the streets of National City, of living a life where potstickers and hugs were her happiest experiences, or of being someone who could ever want intimacy with someone like Lena.

She knew better, yes, but that didn’t stop her from imagining as a lone tear fell in the privacy of darkness.

- - - -

ask game

[beyondmistland]

I read through all your posts about Alysanne Targaryen as Maegor's daughter and am now in a rabbit hole. Thank you. I've been thinking about Maegor's wives and which one of Henry VIII's wives they represent. Ceryse is Cathrine of Aragon and Alys is Anne Boleyn. The others are hard to pin for me since there isn't a lot. What do you think? Would Maegor's reign have been more interesting if his marriages had more similarities to those of Henry VIII?

I think this is where we run into a number of problems regarding the way GRRM wrote Fire & Blood specifically and the way he setup Westeros more generally.

For one, the fairly homogenized nature of southron culture as well as the oversimplification of religious institutions and history means you can't quite get the same dynamism as from real life European history, with its dizzying array of languages, cultures, cuisines, fashions, etc., to mention nothing of the then-ongoing Protestant Reformation. I suppose GRRM could have had Maegor convert to the Old Gods a la Julian (II) the Apostate or the Drowned God (you just know the Ironborn are the one race on the surface of Planetos that would say King Maegor the Good with a completely straight face) or even R'hllor, which would be the best choice in terms of worldbuilding opportunities in my opinion.

Moving on, we run into a handful of problems with Maegor specifically, one of them being the length of his reign. Look, while I can't deny Maegor ruling for 6 years and 66 days is incredibly cheeky, it also isn't anywhere close to Henry VIII's 36 years as king. With so little room timeline-wise, there isn't a lot of flexibility when it comes to telling new stories and fleshing out preexisting ones and all that is before you factor in Maegor himself.

I won't hold back. For all GRRM's talk of moral ambiguity, the human heart in conflict with itself, good men who were bad kings and bad men who were good kings, etc., his Targaryen monarchs are, for the most part, numbingly one-note. Aegon I is a literal enigma, Aenys is weak, Maegor cruel, Viserys I a party animal, Aegon II and Rhaenyra mirror-images of each other in their disqualifying vices, etc. As I've written before with my post reimagining Maegor as more of a Ivan (IV) the Terrible figure there was room to make him a genuinely controversial figure of historiography but instead GRRM doubled down on sensationalism and apathy-inducing slasher porn for lack of a better word. The fact Maegor is also the first and last of Visenya's line just adds more salt to the wound but that's part of GRRM's more general (and for me personally, vexing) habit of keeping family trees incredibly small.

(I do recall another alternative someone once brought up to the late Steven Attewell. Namely, turning Maegor into the Westerosi version of Macbeth by way of Der Untergang.)

This brings me to my semifinal point. GRRM didn't have to write Fire & Blood as Procopius' Secret History on steroids with a dash of Suetonius' Lives of Twelve Caesars and I, Claudius (the entire Saera episode is practically lifted wholesale from the scandal that envelops Augustus' daughter, Julia) but he did, which is doubly disappointing because not only does the final product suck quality-wise as a result but also because there were so many other avenues available to him.

He could have written Fire & Blood as a proper history (with less focus on the sex lives of teenage girls for one) or as a mirror for princes or as a dialogue between two characters or even as a character study. You can even see GRRM struggling with the constraints imposed by his use of Gyldayn in certain sections like the death of Maelor and the entire Hour of the Wolf episode, where you get reams of dialogue and characterization as well as more traditional narrative trappings like build-up, mood setting, etc.

Now, to answer your actual question (lol), I don't think any of Henry VIII's other wives map well onto Maegor's. Tyanna is, more or less, his female counterpart in terms of cruelty and zero redeeming features and entirely a fantasy construct. Elinor and Jeyne are both married to Maegor for only a year (with poor Jeyne dying in childbirth because Jeyne Westerlings, like the Brackens, Peakes, and Florents, cannot catch a break in Westeros) and before said marriage takes place neither appears on the page. As for Rhaena, well, credit where its due, she was a rare (and unexpected) highlight of Fire & Blood.

Thanks for the question, anon

[timecma]

Hi! I was wondering if maybe you had any xelrik headcannons to share for pride month???

Oh boy—sure! Let’s see here…

1. Xanthous and Elrik take as much time as they can to just enjoy the pleasantries of each other’s company because they enjoy the rare moments of peace they get. They just like to talk and chat about things they like, and they are always interested to hear what the other likes as well. It’s a great respite from the insanity that was their typical lives (busy doing things with the Fairy Council and being the Demon King/being forced to go out and do crazy things like hunt a bear/etc.).

2. Speaking of being the Demon King, Xanthous didn’t know how to be a king. But, luckily for him, Xanthous had Elrik… Who happened to be an elf prince. Elrik showed him ways to help manage the demons and give them the king they needed to quell their chaotic natures. Him and Xanthous worked together, and the demons kind of view them both as their rulers even if Elrik isn’t a demon.

3. Continuing off of that idea: Elrik gets what it’s like to be in an extra stressful position and kind of helps Xanthous manage his by giving some tips and tricks. I also like this headcanon because of how we see Xanthous acting in the Land of Stories series (he’s more serious, regal, and knows how to manage a group of people as well as himself). He acts like nobility and I like to think it was Elrik who gave him the confidence to treat himself like one. Our self-conscious boy goes through character growth—yeehaw!

4. Elrik teaches Xanthous how to track! This headcanon I specifically included because Xanthous manages to find the twins in the middle of the forest in book 3. Yes, I know he asked around and people said they saw Lester crash land in that area, but Hagetta’s Hut is hidden really well. Granted he probably had a bird’s eye view from flying, but I like to think he was able to track Hagetta lugging them back to her hut. She’s skilled in the ways of the Dwarf Forests, and I believe she would’ve erased her tracks as best she could so that it would be more difficult to find her. But Xanthous, having been taught by Elrik (who knows the northwest Dwarf Forests really well), was able to find them thanks to his techniques.

5. Elrik likes to surprise Xanthous with gifts. Whether it’s something he kind of picked up on the fly—like a pretty rock—or something he had worked on for a while, Xanthous always reacts with bashfulness and excessive gratitude towards him. Getting gifts was something Xanthous really only got to experience when he was older, so every gift means so much to him. Elrik knows this, so he gives him things to make him smile.

6. Xanthous is well versed in vegetarian cuisine simply because Elrik is a vegetarian. Xanthous also does his best to join him in eating vegetarian meals because he likes the importance and feel-good nature of sharing the meal with him. Elrik has reminded Xanthous about a million times that he doesn’t need to eat vegetarian just because he’s one, but Xanthous does it anyway. Because he loves him.

7. Xanthous and Elrik race (Xanthous flies and Elrik uses his sled and the jackalopes). It’s just a fun thing they do sometimes when they’re adults and Xanthous is back on the council (still have yet to figure out how that happens thanks Mr. Colfer sir) because it’s important to take a moment out of your busy schedule to have fun sometimes. These are more often than not initiated by Elrik, but on rare occasions Xanthous will remind himself that Elrik also has to be gently told to take a load off every now and again. After they’ve laughed, they talk about balancing work and fun to maintain a healthy mindset. Because they’re somewhat healthy adults (let me have this please).

8. Elrik gets to be SUPER tall. We see with Elvina that she’s like taller than the average person, and she’s Elrik’s younger sister, so it’s pretty safe to assume that Elrik got tall. And, since we know he like…spends most of his time in the forest doing what have you, we can also make the assumption that he’s a bit on the stronger side too.

Ergo: Xanthous gets picked up by him. Quite a bit. Assuming he’s there in the Land of Stories series and the twins just don’t get that he’s an elf because of the fact that he’s super tall and not like the typical elf so he didn’t get noticed, of course. But he totally picks Xanthous up to spin him around or just embrace him every so often.

Xanthous gets exasperated by this, but he loves his husband so he tolerates it (he secretly loves it).

9. Xanthous and Elrik did take some time to travel together when Xanthous rejoined the Fairy Council—without being on the run. They didn’t have to Jack and Goldilocks it, but they did spend a lot of time in the forest. It helped Xanthous reconnect with the surface world after ruling over the demons for a bit. Elrik is secretly very happy to be back on the surface amongst trees and in a cooler, less pressurized climate. It also makes Elrik happy when Xanthous enjoys something about the forest—makes him feel more attuned to him through a liking for nature.

10. Again, assuming Elrik is there during the Land of Stories, he playfully teases Xanthous about how he always seems to be paired up with Lampton. He suggests they’re work husbands after they get back from babysitting the twins. Xanthous has to spend a minimum of five minutes each time telling him that Lampton doesn’t even consider him a friend. Elrik always laughs at his reactions because he knows Lampton thinks pretty highly of Xanthous and it’s cute to see Xanthous pretending like Lampton isn’t his work husband.

P.S. I was a Xampton shipper back in middle school because I saw them constantly being paired together. Babysitting the twins, defending the Charming Kingdom, carrying Bo Peep—like come on guys. Come on.

11. Xanthous picks out Elrik’s outfits from now on because the checkered pattern was only good in moderation. Elrik looks so much better now. He’s very grateful.

Side note for this one: Elrik asked why Xanthous doesn’t dress him as dapper as he does, and Xanthous has to tell him about the whole “this is who I am on the inside” thing. Elrik got curious, Xanthous showed him what he meant, and Elrik asked if Xanthous could help him figure out how to dress like he wanted to dress. His outfit is a bit more practical, but it looks so much better. Xanthous is proud of Elrik for having the courage to come forth and ask him for some help in feeling comfortable in something—even if it’s just clothing. He likes that he trusts him enough to help.

12. Elrik affectionately calls Xanthous some fire-related pet names on occasion. Xanthous…sighs every single time, but he’d do anything for his husband so he endures it (he secretly thinks it’s very cute and tries to come up with forest-y pet names for him, but can never seem to come up with good ones).

13. Elrik has a problem with sleeping in the pitch black darkness of Xanthoue’s room or at low altitudes, so he’s grateful to have Xanthous there. He’s literally a nightlight and also very cuddle-able because of his warmth. When they get older, they actually don’t live in the Fairy Palace. They’ve got their own place somewhere in the Fairy Kingdom so that they can both be more comfortable. On occasions where Xanthous decides to reside at the palace because of business or something (he’s always got a room there because he considers it his second home), Elrik misses him so much that he just goes with him. Xanthous is actually really glad because he doesn’t like sleeping alone. Having Elrik there provides him security and lessens the chances of him having nightmares.

14: Xanthous tried out a gentle makeup look once and hated it, but Elrik found him and—because he had a younger sister—he was a little familiar with the topic of makeup. So he redoes it for him and teaches him how to do it. If you’ve read Goldilocks: Wanted Dead or Alive, you’ll see the art of Xanthous makes him have like constant cat eyes. This made me go “eyeliner???” Which then made me go “omg makeup. He’s got a bit of makeup on”. This probably isn’t true, but I wanted it to be so here we are. Boom headcanon.

15: They like to hold hands any chance they get. It’s a meaningful gesture, even if simple, and it makes them feel secure knowing that the other is right there and not going anywhere. They often just sit together and do their own thing, but one of their hands will be occupied holding the other’s. When they’re out and about for a casual stroll, their fingers will be locked together. It’s really just a small thing they do to make sure the other feels nice. They’re there to support each other, and they show it through small yet impactful things like hand holding.

—

Well there you have it! Fifteen small headcanons for our gays during pride month. Ah. I love Xanthous and Elrik. I’m really glad that Chris Colfer gave Xanthous a boyfriend even if it felt a bit rushed. Thanks for stopping by anon! I hope you enjoy your headcanons :)

[bonelessmatcha]

i wanna make a fanfic for dungeon meshi but kui ryoko covered pretty much covered all the themes i like when writing fanfic ideas.

The implications of bad tropes like "evil" sentient races? Orc tribe here; respectfully portrayed refugees/genocide targets, not stupid or unreasonable yet not perfect, (understandably) suspicious yet slowly accepting of the main crew (who was legally obligated to kill them), unique culture heavily based on the environment that kept them alive, on good terms with Senshi.

The implications of character flaws portrayed as a joke? Already addressed in canon and side stories; miscommunication strains relationships, violence can still be traumatizing when you think you're desensitized, consequences can come from both good and bad intentions, and some of the flaws themselves only make sense to exist with the worldbuilding.

Patching holes in worldbuilding? What holes? We got ecosystems, big and small cultural differences, the implications of massive lifespan differences, regional differences in environment and classification, repeated behaviors more common in specific races as a result of sociocultural circumstances, cuisine-

Giving some love to a minor character that isn't treated well by the author? Pretty sure Kui Ryoko cares about all of them already, just about every major or minor antagonist is written in a sympathetic or semi-sympathetic way.

AU? whoops here's a semi-canon Modern AU and Genderswap AU.

If I tried to insert an OC, all the circumstances coming with the worldbuilding would just push them away from most of the canon characters, especially if they're non-humantallman.

(...OCs and AUs are still probably possible, just don't have any immediate ideas coming up.)

[aphverse-confessions]

Inspired by the current discussed but not directly related to it.

All this discussion talk somehow reminded by how annoyed I get when people headcanon mys characters to be a certain ethnicity (or race) but doesn’t include the characters participating in that specific ethnicity’s culture. Using Gene & Dante an example, both of them are heavily implied to be Hispanic and from what I’ve seen a lot people headcanon them to be specifically Mexican, but they’re not written to be Mexican if that makes sense. Like them only having one last name instead of two and neither of them aren’t seen or mentioned celebrating holidays like Día de Muertos or Cinco de Mayo, no mention of any traditional Mexican cuisines Maria or their father would’ve taught them, not having (at least) Gene use Mexican slang, etc.

All of this also applies to characters with a canon ethnicities btw especially mys Aphmau who is canonically Mexican! Why is she written (and sometimes draw) as if she’s white lol. You can’t tell me Sylvanna wouldn’t have taught Aphmau about Mexican culture.

Obviously this only applies to the people who keep real countries existing in their version of mys. This also just applies to characters people don’t purposely write to be disconnected from their culture.

.

[loominggaia]

Do trolls have anything akin to cuisine and traditional dishes? Just because you can eat just about anything doesn't mean it has to be presented with no flair. :D I suppose same question for minotaurs. Are there any foods other races go out of their way to try from either of these groups (besides minotaur milk)?

They certainly do! Trolls are in a unique position where they can eat damn near anything without consequence, even foods that are totally raw, filthy, or rotten. But what's even more unique is the fact that they like the taste of nasty, rotten food!

A troll's sense of smell and taste oppose that of most peoples'. By that I mean, smells and tastes that other peoples find pleasant are usually unpleasant to trolls, and vice versa. Taste is subjective, but we can agree that 99% of humans would retch if they put a rotten egg in their mouth. Meanwhile, the average troll can--and will--happily devour it, and enjoy it much more than a fresh egg.

Because of this, trolls have developed many unique dishes that only their species can safely eat. I will warn you, some of the following text is really disgusting. So if you get grossed out easily, consider skipping the rest of the post.

With that said, let's take a look some of these troll-specific dishes from around the world!

Redge: A rotten egg slathered in bitter herbs.

Plopslop: The manure of a herbivorous animal, boiled down into a soup with half-composted vegetables added.

Grrsi: Fresh meat is inoculated with fly eggs, which hatch and partially digest the meat over time. The meat becomes infested with the fat grubs, which are the main attraction of the dish.

Urizluuk: The urine of a male goat, fermented for months in an alcoholic fruit broth. This is a popular drink dating back to ancient times.

Akwi: Raw fish heads, left to dry in the sun until they smell putrid. Sometimes akwi is made with clams or some other sealife instead.

Dukleka: Garlic is force-fed to rats over the course of many days, then rats are fed to a pig-hawk, which has its rear-end sewn shut. The garlicky rats ferment in its GI tract until the bird dies of bloat, then its stomach and intestines are removed and eaten as a delicacy.

Zlub: This is not a meal in itself, but a sauce made from boiled slug slime and rancid onions. It's added to other foods to give it a slimy, repulsive texture that trolls love.

Volzkriz: Animal blubber (traditionally from a walrus or whale) is boiled down into a liquid and then left to cool, forming a hard block of fat. This can be eaten fresh, but it said to taste better the more rancid it gets.

There are lots more, but I'm sure you get the idea...Even ogres, who can tolerate rancid corpses, will be sickened by some of the things on this list. This gives trolls a serious survival advantage over other species.

As for minotaurs, they are a lot less tolerant of rotten foods. However, they can tolerate tough fibers which are undigestible by most peoples. This includes things like raw grass, bark, and woody vegetation. Even trolls struggle to digest these fibers unless they compost them down to a softer form, but minotaurs can eat them fresh, no preparation needed. This is also quite a big survival advantage.

Minotaurs have quite an affinity for fresh grass, and some of them can get quite snobby about it. There are many debates about which type of grass is best for taste and health, and how best to prepare it. Cooked or raw? Some insist that cooking the grass is culinary heresy, and its subtle flavors should be enjoyed in their purest form as nature intended. There are common grasses which are considered "peasant food" and other, rarer species which are enjoyed by royalty.

Grass is a big meme in Etios Nation. Even the Etiosi make fun of themselves for their apparent cultural obsession with grass, and it certainly hasn't gone unnoticed by foreigners. "Go eat some grass" is a common insult hurled towards minotaurs worldwide.

*

Questions/Comments?

Lore Masterpost

Read the Series

[cryptturon]

it's not obvious from an outside perspective so i'll say outright that i constantly have to adjust to western standards to the point of being unable to elaborate on queer issues specific to my culture.. lest i appear to be some kind of bigot all because the experiences of queer filipinos doesnt match with apparently standard and thus "morally superior" queer westerners.

it's like.. no one's to blame exactly but also it's weird that the first assumption is that i'm also a westerner who just happens to have a wrong perspective. do i need to shout "IM IN SOUTHEAST ASIA" for people to stop and think "oh culture must be slightly different there regarding this"? it really feels like it. bc otherwise if i dont elaborate on that i'm just some asshole. even if i clearly word it in good faith.

BUT on the other hand it feels like it wont help bc the issue at hand being queerness might seem "too western" to consider it has a different approach and image in my country. i can just hear the counterargument.. "don't use your race or culture as an excuse"...

when people think of other cultures, separate attitudes towards queerness is barely ever considered (unless it's the idea that "non-westerners are all queerphobic". hmmm....)

subconsciously or not i know people default to outside cultures encapsulating a vague idea of the native language, the local cuisine, the traditional practices... that's not exactly wrong, but it's incomplete.

somehow it's as if queerness comes last. it's as if queerness is "too western" to consider equal to every other part of our lives. we mightve borrowed your terms and found self-understanding in them but.. isnt one of the arguments for defending queerness the fact that "we were always here"? "we always existed"? "there are tribal identities and practices similar to what we now call queerness"? if that's true (and it is), why is non-western queerness not immediately considered? why is the assumption when seeing an english-speaker with a seemingly skewed perspective defaulted as someone from the west?

we're forced to speak english to reach your "standard". did yall realize that? how we're said to be stupid if all we know are our native languages?

i understand the english-speaking internet has a majority western userbase. but. dugago gid kamo tanan. pota

[juvenile-mudcrab]

Okay my dwemer headcanons time yippee

Under readmore bc it was longer than i expected

1. Their telepathic capabilities, or the Calling, had limited range akin to a walkie-talkie. The tips of their ears are longer and thinner than other races like a tv antenna. They would move their ears to either tune in or out from others. They could extend their telepathic range or accuracy a bit via specific piercings and/or headgear. Tonal architects used special headgear to tune out from others entirely to focus only on their work. Longer distance communication had to be achieved with radio. This is an adaptation as a result of frequently being in low-light environments and working with things that make a lot of noise, its easier and much more efficient to communicate with someone without the danger of them simply not hearing you.

2. Both men and women grew beards. In fact, there wasnt that much difference between the two sexes. Intersex dwemer werent uncommon at all. It wasnt really something that they made a big deal out of.

3. Most, if not all, dwemer are nearsighted, another result of underground living and constantly working with fine details. Pretty much everyone carried glasses with them to use whenever.

4. Every child would be taught how to construct a dwarven spider, and that spider would be with them ideally for their entire lives. They may gradually learn build more complex animunculi as they develop their skills. They usually take on a full apprenticeship to learn the intricacies of dwarven metal and some basic tonal architecture once they are teenagers, but occasionally they may not take on an apprenticeship until they are older.

5. Some dwemer names are more like titles that they take on, most often ones that end with -ac. For example, the name Dumac is a name that every major dwarven leader has, though that may not have been their original name. Every clan has their own Dumac and Kagrenac (every chief tonal architect would be called Kagrenac), as well as other names/titles that we dont know about.

6. They did not sleep on straight up stone beds they had some sort of mat to put on top of them. They just stored it away and used the stone part for other things when they werent sleeping or resting (though im sure some managed to find the actual stone comfortable enough to doze off on)

7. More often than not when talking to anyone of another race their words would be misinterpreted, so they had to choose their words carefully. This is because a lot of meaning behind their words get completely lost because nobody else is telepathic. A conversation between two dwarves may seem short and full of long silent pauses and they may even seem like they arent addressingeach other at all, but thats because a lot of the times theyre just kind of beaming their feelings and thoughts directly into each others minds. This is also why dwemer literature, notes, etc. tend to be hard to comprehend since its hard to convey things on paper without that additional communication so it has to be more verbose. The communication barrier between them and other races often felt like much more work than it was worth, which is why they were usually very isolated and held themselves in a higher regard.

8. They acted different around other people than amongst themselves which also added to the impression most people had of them. Partially because of a society-wide superiority complex and partially because of the communication barrier, they acted a lot more calculated and blunt towards others.

9. The average dwarf was shorter than an altmer and taller than everyone else

10. Mushrooms were a huge part of their cuisine

11. They could hear sounds of both higher and lower frequency than the average person can. This helps them pinpoint issues a piece of machinery or structural may be having, structural integrity of a building or excavation, or with tonal architecture in general.

12. They sometimes used their voice for fine tuning, especially tonal architects. A group of tonal architects working together could sound like a harmonized choir. They arent singing for fun (they could if they wanted to though), its just part of the job. Just how stuff works. Im not gonna act like i fully understand what tonal architecture even is.

13. For the dwarves of skyrim, chaurus were their primary source of meat but they didnt find their chitin to be very useful for much so it was often discarded or traded. The discarded chitin was then utilized by the falmer at the beginning of the War of the Crag which helped give them an advantage for a good while.

14. A lot of traps in skyrims dwemer ruins were later additions in the midst of the war of the crag, which is why many may seem oddly placed, unecessary, or nonsensical to an explorer.

[sunsinourhands]

Saffron

DBZ / Super / Daima OC Xenoverse / Xenoverse II / AU friendly OC Multiship OC

Name: Saffron (No surname) Age: ???? / Redacted. But, at least 30. Race: Mostly Human Approximate Power Level: Difficult to Say* Perceived at around 20k, but anyone used to sensing ki would say that feels 'wrong' or like a trick of some kind. To plot or discuss RP, just hit up my DMs or reply to this.

Allegiance: Whis / Beerus / the Kai Faction

Primary Role: Lore, Support, Transportation and Navigation, Anti-Wizard Orbital Laser

Background: Saffron literally has had her memories wiped from the Buu Saga backwards. The Buu Saga just does not exist in her memories, and she is well aware that they have been erased. But, she also gets the feeling that she would learn something very upsetting if she got her memories back. The idea of it just makes her feel an immense sorrow, and she has decided to just not pursue it. She is utterly certain it would destroy any happiness she currently has.

Saffron is most often seen in the contexts of a support unit for the Time Patrol, or as Whis's assistant. It's funny, because Whis doesn't need any help--Saffron's actual duties are preparing snacks and delivering them. So she is closer to a personal Uber Eats Driver than anything else. Saffron was supposedly doing other things before Whis and Beerus came to discover their love of Earth cuisine--but was immediately re-assigned as Snack Factory shortly after. Alternatively, she also serves specifically to counter enemy magic users.

Whis and Beerus can and often do 'lend' Saffron out to others (especially the Kais) if they don't want to be bothered seeing to a problem themselves. Yes, they are also often bribed by foods into lending out Saffron to others as well. In NSFW RP and lore, this does get her dropped into all sorts of lewd situations.

Personality : It is immediately clear that Saffron does not have the personality or the demeanor to be a warrior. She doesn't abhor violence, but rather sees it as a tool that can be used for good or for evil. The same is true of magic.

At the same time, she isn't particularly strong. Any time she ends up in combat, she will likely hide and just be terrified. Even though Whis and Beerus will abuse the system in order to bring her back (because they won't give her enough days off), it is still painful to die.

She is the type to only speak informally to people she is close to and will otherwise use very formal language.

Unlike many of the warriors, Saffron has a pretty good working understanding of how to interact with others. So she will flatter egos and use language to get what she wants if she has to. She is the type who would have gotten along well with Gowasu, but be tolerated by Zamasu due to her deferential behavior. Known Abilities

Cooking (Yes, it does grand buffs.) Yes, cooking for Whis and Beerus does make Saffron a pretty good cook. But, she would confirm that Chichi is far more skilled--due to her much larger breadth of experience and cooking large quantities of food regularly. In contrast, Saffron specializes in more visually appealing dainties and Western Style foods. Saffron has a Capsule Corp home with an industrial kitchen and refrigerator. So she is equipped at any time.

Energy Shield

Enhancement Magic / Buff Magic / White Mage Esuna Saffron can use her power to temporarily empower her allies. This can include enhancing their physical strength, or resistance to magic.

Flight (but she is NOT FAST, and needs her staff focus in order to keep up with most.)

Healing (No one fucks with the white mage)

Lore Drop Saffron has an extensive knowledge of the cosmology of the universe, but there are notable holes where she just doesn't know anything. One must imagine she listens to history podcasts off of God Tube while cooking a lot.

Magic

Manipulation Magic Immunity Saffron is totally immune to any attempts to manipulate her by any other mortal magic user. Whis and the higher level Kais know that Saffron partially keeps her memories wiped because she prefers it that way and allows it.

Resurrection (Temporary) Saffron has the authority to grant a dead person a 24 hour 'pass' into the world of the living as long as they are under her supervision. This is equal parts magic and scissors used to cut through the procedures and approvals necessary to do so in the underworld. In essence, she issues an emergency order under Whis's authority to overrule King Yemma temporarily.

Sealing

Transportation Pass Saffron has the authority under Whis and Beerus to move freely between the Universes, the Underworlds, and the Demon Worlds. Yes, they mostly exploit this to make her get specific ingredients for their snacks. When in the Demon World, Saffron seems to have a conditional illusion spell active to make her ears pointed.

* Saffron's Ki just seems OFF. Like the flavor of it is strange. Common rumors include that she is the result of a dalliance between a mortal and either a Kai or Lower God or Majin--or possibly the result of DNA experiments. Those who are in the know do not talk about it.

Saffron's Staff serves as a focus, and a huge boost for her power. Part of the reason it is so powerful is that (continuing the gags) is that a very powerful, ancient Demon is sealed inside. But, the demon is a Masochist that gets off on being used by a woman with a big ass. He was unused for a long time, because he had very stringent requirements for bust and hip measurements for the person who used him.

Associated Songs

In My Long Forgotten Cloistered Sleep Zoltraak Dungeon Meshi Opening One in a Billion Onnaji Kimochi

[acr3ss-the-cosmos]

When the Foxians and Borisins first branched off from their common ancestor countless Amber Eras ago, the former's dietary needs began to shift as well. They were no longer obligate carnivores (a trait the Borisins retained from their predecessors), but were now omnivorous, as their digestive tracts had adapted to properly digest plant matter and grains to convert into energy.

This has been reflected in the cuisine of modern day Foxians, with their dishes consisting of a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, and animal proteins. Contrary to what those unfamiliar with their race may believe, meat isn't a requirement in a Foxian's diet, and they are still able to gain enough protein by consuming eggs, beans, nuts, seeds, and other meatless sources. To use a specific example, while Chenhua is not vegan, she tends to eat less meat than the average Foxian as she prefers meals more on the vegetarian side, with a strong liking towards fruits and berries.

[the-path-to-redemption]

Here’s a fun ask instead of all the harassment you’ve been receiving! What are 5 things that you would change about the show creatively to make it personally satisfying and indulgent to you? It can be anything. Excluding stuff like no racist/ableist/queerphobic/etc. writing cause that’s a no-brainer to most people.

Oooooo fun! Thanks bestie 😘

I would like to explore the effects of Semblance on a user, like Quirks changing the user's personhood in BNHA, and challenging Remnant as a society even further with exploration into its structure surrounding Semblance.

For example, Qrow's Semblance is extremely volatile and dangerous even to himself, so how would Remnant react to that? Especially when he's part of the legendary team STRQ, and how did he navigate life with his Semblance? Anything other than "boo hoo I'm so sad" even though most of the shit was his own doing ugh.

Another concept I want to explore in my own reimagining of RWBY is how different Grimm reacts to a certain emotion. Sure, they all love negative emotions in every form, but each specializes in different ranges of those negative emotions: Nevermores and sorrow, Beowulves and solitude/loneliness, Ursas and rage, Death Stalkers and fear, and so much more. Maybe that's how they evolve along with being alive for a very long time, by consuming prey with those specific traits in large quantities.

I know you say no racism, but I would lean the whole Faunus thing to more Beastars territory or even Zootopia: "when other bunnies call each other cute, it's okay. But for others...." or "predator type Faunus aren't dangerous but Remnant condemns them for not being 'cute' or 'safe looking' enough". It removes that whole thing from the narrative, and actually propose unique issues for a fantasy race. And that the Faunus on Menagerie are much more comfortable with their traits, adapting and overcoming the terrains of the island and building a culture about their traits. Not that weird inconsistent shit or even the allegory shot. Because remember kids, comparing fantasy races to black people is fucking stupid.

Number 4 on the list is the cultures of Remnant. I've been thinking about Vacuo lately, and I can see in the 80 years post war, their cuisine are heavily based on fermentation, preserved food, and heavily spiced dishes in order to prevent spoilage and ensure a stable stock when needed. Menagerie is also another one my co-wroter brings up, where the Faunus popularized seafood and raw food like sushi due to their reliance on the ocean when land is limited. Diversify that shit up man, there's more than one nation!

And finally, MAKE MORE FLASHBACKS.

Seriously, give us flashbacks of shit we need to know prior to the current timeliness. Give me STRQ, give me Oz's previous hosts and their experiences other than that one sequence, give me character depths outside of the constraints of the fucking current timeline. Seriously, be like Naruto just this once instead of the bullshit misogyny yall got, CRWBY.

Thanks for the ask!